A Solihull pensioner was fighting for his life last night after a microlight crashed into his camper van at a Midlands transport festival.

The 66-year-old man, who has not been named, had been sitting under the vehicle's awning when the aircraft came down in Weston Park, at about 3.30pm.

The accident happened during the Midlands Festival of Transport, a two-day annual event which has been held at the stately home since 1988.

Paramedics and more than 30 firefighters were called to Weston Park, on the Shropshire- Staffordshire border.

An air ambulance crew took the pensioner, who suffered head and chest injuries plus multiple fractures, to Selly Oak Hospital.

Last night his condition was described as "critical." The blue and red microlight was piloted by a 44-year-old man, from Newport, in Shropshire, with his 20-year-old son a passenger.

Both escaped the crash without serious injuries.

It is believed the pilot had begun his descent onto a landing strip on the site when he spotted another light aircraft preparing to take off.

Instead of landing as planned, it is thought he decided to "go round again" to allow the second microlight time to get airborne.

John Chatwin, of festival organisers Transtar Promotions, described the crash as "an unfortunate incident."

He said: "The microlight pilot had seen another aircraft preparing to take off so decided to go round again.

"However he misjudged the situation and came down between two camper vans.

"There was an awning between the two vehicles and I understand someone was in there having afternoon tea at the time.

"We've never had any accidents or anybody hurt at this event during the past 17 years. This was an unfortunate incident, a error in judgement from the pilot's point of view - he just didn't get it right."

But Mr Chatwin added that the vehicles were not parked on the official camping site.

"They shouldn't have been there, they weren't on the camp site and we didn't realise they were there until this happened," he said.

The Civil Aviation Authority is due to launch a full investigation later today.

Weston Park, the ancestral home of the Earl of Bradford, is used to stage major events including horse trials and the annual V Festival.